Woodland boys basketball team falls to Lincoln

The holiday season is a time for improvisation as far as the Woodland Wolves are concerned.

Playing without three key players who are taking holiday vacations with their families, coach Carson Padon and his staff have done their best to piece together a competitive roster for the Wolves' recent non-league games. On Saturday Woodland came up short against visiting Lincoln of Lincoln, scoring just 12 second-half points and losing, 63-34.

It was Woodland's second loss in two nights. On Friday the Wolves (1-10) fell at Roseville, 81-31.

Against Lincoln (10-4) the Wolves played without 6-foot-10 inch junior center Ean Johansen and senior forwards Kyle Evert and Dylan Woltmon. All were on holiday with their families, according to Padon.

"We shouldn't have lost the way we did but we didn't have those guys," Padon said.

Carson Frank led Woodland with 16 points and 11 rebounds but he was the only Wolf to reach double figures and one of only four to score.

One of the scorers was 6-1 Chaz Lopez, a sophomore call-up from Woodland's junior varsity. The wide-bodied post player finished with four points.

Padon said Lopez might still spend the Tri-County Conference portion of Woodland's schedule at the JV level but will likely remain on Woodland's varsity at least through the team's home game against Davis next Friday. Underclassmen who play a varsity league game are no longer eligible to return to the JV level.

"I think Chaz is going to be a nice player for us," Padon said. "He has a big body and a nice touch."

Frank made four 3-pointers and has totaled 21 rebounds in his last two games. But with few other scoring options on the floor for Woodland, Frank soon became the focal point of Lincoln's defensive effort.

"Our mentality is to roll with what we've got," Padon said. "We're going to do our best to get things rolling by the time we play Natomas (on Jan. 10) to open league."